Stanford Psychology Podcast 168 - Robin Dunbar: How Many People Can You Be Friends With? (REAIR)
Jan 23, 2026
Robin Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at Oxford, delves into the intriguing concept of 'Dunbar's number'—the cognitive limit of stable relationships we can maintain. He unpacks its layers, revealing how friendships require significant emotional investment. The discussion explores why isolation can be preferable after trauma and contrasts social needs of autistic individuals versus psychopaths. Dunbar also highlights the role of gossip in social bonding and how humor evolved, providing insight into the complexities of human connections.
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Natural Layers Of Human Social Networks
- Humans naturally maintain layered social circles of roughly 5, 15, 50, 150, 500, 1,500, and 5,000 people with a ~3x scaling ratio.
- These layers act as attractors that optimize time, emotional investment, and information flow in social networks.
Friendships Cost Real Time
- Maintaining meaningful friendships requires substantial time: roughly 200 hours of face-to-face interaction to form a good friend.
- People allocate social time optimally across layers, producing the observed 5, 15, 50, 150 distribution.
Prioritize Your Inner Five
- Prioritize your inner five: invest about 40% of your social time in your closest five people for reliable support.
- Devote the next 20% to roughly 10 more close contacts to cover most of your social capital needs.
